St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)

Articles from January 16, 1997

The United Way of Greater St. Louis has announced allocations totaling nearly $48.3 million to more than 140 health and human service member organizations and other community services in 1997.The money comes from $53.8 million in pledges made during...

A photo lab employee and a private investigator were arrested Wednesday on charges of leaking the JonBenet Ramsey crime-scene photos that were published in a supermarket tabloid.At a news conference, Boulder County Sheriff George Epp said that Brett...

THIRTY YEARS ago this season, Yves Saint Laurent sent an outfit down his haute couture runway that was the fashion equivalent of the shot heard 'round the world.Le smoking, the designer's take on a men's tuxedo, was outrageously chic and just plain outrageous."There...

The hard-won Hebron agreement gives President Bill Clinton a foreign policy triumph to take into his second term and a road map for further land-for-peace deals between Israel and the Arabs.Exulting over the accord between the Israelis and the Palestinians,...

When the Rams braintrust acknowledged that it would "expand its search" for its next coach, more than a few local football fans twitched. Did this mean Rams President John Shaw was starting to "look under rocks" or "check under his sofa cushion" for...

The condition of Illinois' children is gloomy but could be improved with early intervention and increased resources for the state's youngest at-risk residents, an advocacy group said in its annual overview."We believe the General Assembly is beginning...

IT'S AS HEAVY as a brick, maybe heavier - 3 pounds, 2 ounces, which is small for a baby but huge for a magazine. It's got 538 oversize pages, it's profusely illustrated and it's devoted with a near-messianic zeal to the greater glory of . . . the cigar....

Target and Sports Authority tare among the anchor stores lined up for the $55 million first phase of the under-construction Promenade at Brentwood shopping center.The developer, ORIX Sansone LLC, announced the tenants during a groundbreaking Wednesday...

Edward Norton won the lottery. Beat the odds. Did the impossible. He made it onto Hollywood's hot list. And not because he's handsome, like co-star Richard Gere (Norton's conspicuously average looking) or because he had a famous name, like co-star Drew...

Declaring street gangs "the greatest single threat to public safety in Illinois," Gov. Jim Edgar's gangs commission recommended Wednesday a $2.2 million program designed to combat the problem."It addresses this intolerable threat to public safety by...

Declaring street gangs "the greatest single threat to public safety in Illinois," Gov. Jim Edgar's gangs commission recommended Wednesday a $2.2 million program designed to combat the problem."It addresses this intolerable threat to public safety by...

IT'S a typical Capitol Hill press briefing. Government bureaucrats spew out statistics while bored reporters roll their eyes.But the jaded scribes grab their notebooks when a tall, bearded, distinguished-looking man comes to the podium. The gentleman...

Dear Ann Landers: Recently, I did something very stupid. I switched a couple of price tags in a shop and got caught. I was given a ticket for "misdemeanor theft by deception." I went to court, paid the ticket and wrote a letter of apology to the store....

The old Midwestern boast about fast-changing weather proved itself by the shovelful Wednesday with the ping of sleet, a crust of frozen rain and showers of fluffy snow. Today's contribution is a return to bitter chill."It's January. What do you want?"...

The old Midwestern boast about fast-changing weather proved itself by the shovelful Wednesday with the ping of sleet, a crust of frozen rain and showers of fluffy snow. Today's contribution is a return to bitter chill."It's January. What do you want?"...

Every January, magazines are filled with stories reviewing highlights of the past year and offering predictions for the coming one. This has always seemed rather wasteful. After all, if last year's predictions were any good, why do we need to review...

Divi is an odd restaurant, one caught up in an identity crisis. The former Provin ces restaurant in the Frontenac Hilton has maintained the French provincial decor, with its formal chandelier and elaborate floral ar rangements.Yet, however incongruous,...

ThursdaySo that's what he looks like: Carl Kasell, one of the voices of National Public Radio's popular "Morning Edition," makes a benefit appearance for the local affiliate, KWMU, at The St. Louis Science Center. Kasell, who has been with the daily...

St. Charles City Council members agree that the chain-link fence along Frontier Park is unsightly and will consider this spring whether to spend as much as $140,000 to replace it.At its committee meeting Tuesday, the council agreed to consider making...

Here's what Post-Dispatch reviewers thought about the following video releases when they premiered on the big screen:Manny And LoRating: R, language, adult themes, minor violence. Running time: 1:30. Individuals are mostly a family composition, relatively...

Bi-State will reduce bus service in south and southwest St. Louis County on Monday by eliminating two lines and consolidating several others.Bi-State officials say the changes are based on low ridership and the resulting high cost of maintaining service....

Dear Dr. Donohue: At a recent physical my doctor took blood for the usual tests. The lab report indicated a blood "amylase" level of 123. The lab normal range is 24-97. What are the consequences of a high amylase count? Do I have to change my diet, etc.?Welcome...

Two evenly matched teams met Wednesday in the desert, where the locals have been complaining about the bad weather.Rain. Mid-50s.Hey, some people got it rough. The Blues and Phoenix Coyotes entered the game with identical records - 19-22-4 for 42 points...

The Rev. Jesse Jackson ended an eight-month boycott against Mitsubishi on Wednesday, saying the automaker was committed to reforms that include increasing the number of minority and women dealers.The company also will rehire women who lost their jobs...

MISSOURIST. LOUISMayoral Candidates To Debate Downtown A mayoral debate focusing on how to reverse the decline of downtown St. Louis will go on today as scheduled, despite snowy weather. The debate, featuring the seven declared candidates for mayor,...

WASHINGTONDole To Receive The Medal Of FreedomPresident Bill Clinton will present Bob Dole, his former Republican rival, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, White House officials said Wednesday. Dole, 73, is scheduled...

To hear the British rave about Tim Henman, he's Stefan Edberg with an Oxford accent, Pete Sampras with a personality, Boris Becker with dark hair and a smooth chin."Henmania" is catching on at the Australian Open, where Henman has a touch of Rod Laver...

Brooks Fiber Properties Inc. is proud of the 17,000 customers it has in Grand Rapids, Mich., but it says that isn't enough competition to justify Ameritech's request to enter the long-distance market in all of Michigan."We feel that their filing is very,...

The Budweiser frogs haven't croaked their last, says Bob Lachky, Anheuser-Busch's vice president for brand management.The green trio have been stars of Budweiser's television advertising for two years. They've appeared in six commercials so far. Two...

Dennis Rodman kicked a courtside cameraman in the groin during the third quarter Wednesday night before Scottie Pippen sparked the Chicago Bulls to a 112-102 win over the Timberwolves in Minneapolis.Pippen finished with 29 points, 17 of them coming in...

Elizabeth Spicer, director of The St. Louis Shakespeare Company's production of "Julius Caesar," originally toyed with the idea of staging the Bard's classic in traditional fashion. Togas, ionic columns, armored sentries a the wholly Roman thing.But...

Weldon Spring will have a new mayor and two new aldermen after the April 1 election. The Board of Aldermen announced the candidates at a meeting Tuesday.Donald D. Licklider, 4950 Sammelman Road, will run unopposed for mayor. William B. Vahle, 141 Newgrange...

`THANKS FOR GIVING a bunch of kids from the ghetto some new suits," a member of the Fugees said as the hip-hop musical group ended its performance at Giorgio Armani's extravaganza birthday party last fall.It turned out that the Fugees had been given...

Ladue hopes to take its four-year dispute with Village Lutheran Church to a higher authority - the Missouri Supreme Court.The city is getting support from many of its neighbors and across the state. That's because the Missouri Municipal League and the...

Bridges, bike paths, MetroLink and traffic signals were on the minds of people who attended a public meeting on transportation in Madison County Tuesday night.Planners and consultants steering a 20-year long-range transportation study for the county...

They weren't originally on the basketball schedule for St. Joseph's Academy, but in the last week, the Angels have played in two double-headers.Last Saturday, top-ranked St. Joseph's hosted Jackson in a rematch of a Missouri Class 4A quarterfinal last...

Commerce Bank reported an 11 percent increase in profits for 1996, along with a 15 percent rise in earnings per share.The bank scored a 1.37 percent return on assets, a bit above other Midwest banks, and a 14.5 percent return on equity.The bank's problem...

Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings,9 p.m. Friday at Off BroadwayYou may remember the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings in their past incarnation as the Mellow Fellows, a group out of Carbondale, Ill., that backed the late, great Larry "Big Twist" Nolan in a...

Two anti-mining protesters disrupted Wednesday's meeting of the Missouri Conservation Department and exchanged heated words with the commissioners.The four commissioners were about to discuss an invitation from Doe Run Co. to tour its lead mines.As Chairman...

FOR almost a year, Sue has had to endure an unusual odor at her health club."You expect to smell cleaning products, chlorine from the pool or even sweat. But not this. I don't know how much longer I can stand it."What does Sue smell? Cookies. Chocolate...

The Creve Coeur City Council erected another roadblock in the way of an office and apartment complex proposed for Mason Road south of Olive Boulevard. The mayor said the move won't work.On Monday, the council adopted land-use guidelines for the northwest...

St. Louis County and Clayton want to swap land in downtown Clayton. A deal would lead to:A 1,000-vehicle county parking garage at Shaw Park Boulevard and Central Avenue.A high-rise luxury apartment building of about 170 units on Brentwood Boulevard and...

Stage FrightFor those who relish the combination of stage theatrics and spine-tingling horror, nothing could be more pleasing than an "Annie" production starring the Olsen twins.Nothing, perhaps, except the "The Woman in Black," the dark, haunting tale...

SATURDAYWINE AND COMEDY - The Maddening Crowd from Laugh Tracks at Union Station will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Winery, 5634 High Street, Augusta. There will be a wine-tasting at 6 p.m. and a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost will be $29....

The process of disciplining House Speaker Newt Gingrich for his admitted, improper use of tax exempt foundation money for political purposes and misleading the Ethics Committee has gotten seriously off-track. The Democrats are the ones who most recently...

(Distribution problems because of severe weather prevented some readers from getting late editions of Wednesday's Post-Dispatch, which contained the following story.)*******A combination of a strained knee and what University of Missouri coach Norm Stewart...

Public school students here will see changes when the school year begins next fall.Older students will attend a new $29 million four-year high school, and many younger pupils will go to reorganized schools. The district will begin a full-day kindergarten.And...

IN A SNIT: Some area realtors have gone ballistic over the new system used to open properties that are listed for sale. Previously, the Multacc system allowed a realtor access to the property by simply using a key to activate a code, which opened the...

Although the Ritenour School District's enrollment has dropped slightly over the past three years, staffing and program needs will grow, administrators said in a report to the School Board last week.Assistant superintendents Ann Kallemeier and Jack Williams...

A recent report that erroneously nearly doubled the dropout rate at Cahokia High School may turn out to be a catalyst for stepped-up action to address the dropout problem, says Cahokia School District Superintendent Robert Bresnahan."Sometimes we don't...

If you think the Marsalis family is a musical phenomenon, take a look at the Romeros, dubbed "The Royal Family of the Guitar."Now into the third generation, the various Romeros perform as soloists, as soloists with orchestra, in pairs, and a as they...

As a 39-year-old single parent, Wayne Wood has dismissed bars as a way to meet friends. Wood prefers to combine his social life with activities that include his three children.When the call went out to single parents interested in forming a new Parents...

Rodney E. Slater, the longtime Clinton confidant from Arkansas nominated to be the new secretary of transportation, could be written off as a "roads only" guy. After all, he's just served four years as federal highway administrator. Earlier, he was highway...

The board of directors of the Rock Community Fire Protection District fired Chief Ron Fiala last week in a move that took district personnel by surprise.Fiala, who was chief for nearly five years, said he was dismissed Monday in a closed session with...

"I'm honored. It means a lot to be selected to come back and coach at your own school and SIU is my school. It's going to be like going home."Shawn Watson, after he was hired as SIUC football coach in 1993.******** Three years ago, Shawn Watson was the...

A season ago, the Fort Zumwalt North High girls basketball team won four games, finishing 4-22. Tuesday, the Lady Panthers picked up victory No. 5 this season.Zumwalt North (5-6) used a big second quarter to take control and then held on for a 38-34...

Phoenix assistant coach Paul MacLean noticed a big change on Wednesday night in the team he almost got the chance to coach.The Blues, who selected Joel Quenneville over MacLean to succeed Mike Keenan, exploded for three goals in the final period to beat...

Dana Gould's comic metier has been one of distilling rage and alienation presented in dark but funny storytelling rants. Something like: "I'm in love. I have a girlfriend. Just have to get rid of that damn restraining order."Or: "I broke my collarbone...

My favorite winter garment is a bright red sweat shirt with an appliqued snowman and the message, "Let It Snow." I wear it on every possible occasion, although people around me often disagree with the sentiment. No matter. As a relaxed retiree, I enjoy...

For someone who had just left Southern California to come to frigid St. Louis, Mike Sorber sounded surprisingly upbeat, especially when you consider that his trip home was because a sore hamstring had knocked him out of the U.S. lineup for the U.S. Cup...

The Pentagon said Wednesday that it won't rush its examination of the proposed merger of Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp.The two companies are hoping for quick action on their decision to join forces.The Pentagon has no formal veto in the process,...

It was the morning of Brian McBride's first start with the U.S. national soccer team, and he couldn't sleep.The match that day against Costa Rica had shaped up as the key one of the season for the U.S. team in World Cup qualifying. Coming off a sobe...

Precious Metal BandAussie rock act Silverchair will perform at Mississippi Nights on Feb. 14. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. The band is out supporting "Freak Show," its follow-up to its huge debut, "Frogstomp." Rumor has it Matthew Sweet will...

There are many ways to define the importance of the Hebron deal forged between Benjamin Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat, but for me it comes down to this: The conservative right in Israel has finally recognized what the center and left have known for years...

Grand attempts to reconcile economics and environmental interests typically fail, with the result that these two groups often become opponents in the public arena. Most efforts to bridge intellectual differences have economists trying to get environmental...

GuidelinesSelection of Help Youself questions is based on brevity, clarity, variety and suitability.Send your questions or answer, including your name, address and phone number and, if providing an answer, the date on which the question appeared to:...

No. 4 seed Martina Hingis played superb tennis today to move into the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Lisa Raymond."I played almost perfect in the second set," the 16-year-old Hingis said of her first match against the...

The Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration and Black History Month provide an annual opportunity to assess race relations and to examine forgotten episodes in our nation's past. Toward that end, the Missouri Historical Society and its in-house Historyonics...

What is country music? That's the burning question, and it's being debated in any number of country music publications these days. A letter in the latest issue of the Journal of Country Music praises "the really great artists, such as Johnny Cash," who's...

A HOUSE PANEL voted 12-2 Wednesday to turn down a pay raise that a citizens group recommended for lawmakers and judges.The debate moves to the full House today.The Legislature has until Feb. 1 - about nine working days - to reject the raise proposal...

Any roster of great international film directors contains the "A-List" of usual suspects: Fellini, Bergman, Truffaut, Kurosawa, Herzog. One name, not quite so famous, that also continually makes the grade is Satyajit Ray.An artistic and fiercely independent...

The Kirkwood Theater Guild's current offering is a fine production of Paul Rudnick's engaging comedy, "I Hate Hamlet."The title reflects the feelings of Andrew Rally, a young actor who starred in a recently canceled television series. He has moved to...

(Distribution problems because of severe weather prevented some readers from getting late editions of Wednesday's Post-Dispatch, which contained the following story.)******Kevin Turner was determined. Kiwane Garris was energized. And Chris Gandy was...

THE "SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS" looks positively puny suspended from the ceiling among other famous 20th century aircraft preserved at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Puny in size but not significance.Charles Lindbergh's first solo across...

About 500 people applied for jobs at a career fair for Players Island Casino last weekend. That may sound like a lot of applicants, but they won't fill even half of the casino's openings.So this Saturday, the casino, which is set to open in March pending...

Michael Jordan scored 39 points, including eight in the final two minutes, and Dennis Rodman reached 10,000 career rebounds Tuesday night as the Bulls beat the Washington Bullets 108-107 in Chicago.Scottie Pippen added 25 points and made three key 3-pointers...

Kentucky occasionally slips up in the Southeastern Conference, but it doesn't take the Wildcats long to bounce back. Just ask Georgia.Coming off their first regular-season conference loss since the 1994-95 season, the No. 5 Wildcats went into a typically...

Give me two cheeseburgers, a couple of orders of fries, two sodas a and a cure for my kids' cabin fever.Sure, it's easy for nutritionists to swirl beakers, measure cholesterol and caution parents against the evils of fast food. But when the thermomete...

With its staging of "Kindertransport," the West End Players Guild is bringing an important work to St. Louis audiences in an outstanding production.Diane Samuels' play takes its name from the trains that transported Jewish children out of Germany on...

In an effort to keep the Los Angeles Dodgers under local ownership, the City Council recommended Wednesday that owner Peter O'Malley consider taking the team public.The council voted unanimously nine days after O'Malley's surprising announcement that...

Trans World Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it is laying off 242 machinists because of schedule cuts at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.Although TWA issued notices only to machinists based at Kennedy, the furloughs - which take effect...

IF IT'S JANUARY, it must be time for the lucky ones among us to think about resort wear.Which is no doubt why the first plus-size Lilly Pulitzer collection is hitting The Forgotten Woman stores right about now. (Lillys have always been popular with those...

The violence of street gangs and the bigotry of hate crimes are the targets of two new criminal cases filed by Madison County State's Attorney William R. Haine, who pledges to attack such problems because they tear at the fabric of society.For the first...

EvitaThe Complete Motion Picture Soundtrack (Warner Bros.)Evita London Cast (MCA) An appreciation of either of these CDs demands something fairly important from the listener a that is, an appreciation for the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the man who...

SINCE THE BEGINNING of time, women have been saying the same two things before they let a smock-clad professional make them over: "I don't want to look made-up" and "I don't have time to put a lot of stuff on my face." Which the dragon lady in the smock...

It started only 280 miles away in Chicago, but it took almost five years before house music found a home in the Gateway City. The club was called 1227 a a renovated warehouse on Washington Avenue where many St. Louisans first heard the hybrid of soulful...

President Bill Clinton announced on Wednesday the final repayment of a $13.5 billion loan to Mexico and said the repayment - three years early - proved the success of the controversial rescue effort his administration undertook in 1995."Two years ago,...

Millionaire Steve Fossett's attempt to circle the globe by balloon ran into problems Wednesday - he may have to fly over Libya and Iran, and a heater was malfunctioning.Fossett's support staff said the immediate problem involved a heater needed to warm...

A few weeks ago, pitcher DAVID WELLS stood inside Yankee Stadium after signing with the New York Steinbrenners for several kazillion bucks. Wells boasted about the toughness and fighting spirit that has helped him succeed in the rough, tough Big Apple.So...

Coming Soon a probably: Well, it's not the busiest of movie seasons but here's a look at few titles that will probably make it to a theater near you sometime this month. Remember, movie studios change dates as often as Madonna a so don't count on all...

OceanicVangelis (East West)I remember 15 years ago thinking "If I hear that damn `Chariots of Fire' music one more time I'm going to lose my mind." Catchy tune, eh? Remember the guys running down the beach? So where has Vangelis been since he did that...